from the June 15-June 17, 2007, Central Delta Argus-Sun
Four arrested in HG vandalism
By Tricia Rogers Co-Editor
HOLLY GROVE -- Four men were arrested in the recent Holly Grove vandalism case.
Jheren Moore, 20, Ronnie L. Johnson Jr., 22, and Torrye Sims, 21, all of Holly Grove, were arrested Tuesday, June 12, by Arkansas State Police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and made court appearances Wednesday at the Brinkley District Court. They face felony charges of arson and criminal mischief.
A fourth suspect, Terrell Parris, 23, of Holly Grove turned himself in at the Monroe County Detention Center Thursday evening, said Monroe County Sheriff Gary Henard. Parris was also charged with arson and criminal mischief.
Sims faces an additional charge of possession of firearms by a certain person. Moore also faces a charge of theft by receiving. Police recovered weapons during the arrest, noted Arkansas State Police spokesperson Bill Sadler.
The men were arrested in connection to the vandalism that occurred June 3. The rampage started with shooting out all the windows in the city's fire department. Vandals then moved on to the new police department building, which is the former Bank of Holly Grove building. All the windows of this building were also shot out and cinder blocks were thrown through the glass doors of the building. The next building damaged was the store building next to the police station owned by Mayor Lula Tyler. Vandals also shot at this building and threw bricks and blocks through the windows and doors, Henard said.
The destruction then moved on to city hall where windows were shot out and the city's two police cars were shot up, had all the tires slashed and were set on fire. Henard noted that vandals had put a rag in the gas tank of one of the cars and set it on fire, nothing that both cars were close to totalled. Henard noted that multiple weapons were used in the rampage.
Mayor Lula Tyler reported Tuesday that work was being done this week to repair the damages at city hall, including replacing windows and fixing the roof.
"Fixing the city hall is a positive act for our town," Tyler said.
Since the June 3 incident, Monroe County Sheriff's Department, along with the State Police, have been handling the police patrolling in Holly Grove. A juvenile curfew was also implemented from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly.
"This (the arrests) has been a concerted effort," Henard said. "We've spent a lot of man hours and had a lot of community effort. A lot of factors led to these arrests, not just one thing."
Since their arrests earlier in the week, all three men have bonded out of jail on $75,000 bond each. Johnson bonded out Wednesday and Moore and Sims bonded out Thursday. Parris is currently being held at the Monroe County Detention Center on a $75,000 bond.
Henard commented that the case is still under investigation and there could possibly be more arrests.
"We've been following leads and are still investigating this," Henard said. He did say that the act of vandalism is still being treated as a seperate case from the arsons in the town the past few months that included the former police station and a day care center.
"As of now, we believe the incidents are unrelated," Henard said.
The men are to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court for plea and arraignment on July 2.
from the June 29-July 1, 2007, Central Delta Argus-Sun:
Police continuing HG investigation
By Tricia Rogers Co-Editor
HOLLY GROVE -- Things in the city of Holly Grove have calmed down in the past couple of weeks, said Monroe County Sherif Gary Henard.
Henard noted that since the June 12 arrest of four men for the recent vandalism in the city, things are quite a bit calmer.
"It's calmed down a bit," Henard siad. "The citizens feel safer and we haven't had any major trouble."
Henard noted that although arrest were made, the case is still under investigation.
"The state police and I had two meetings on this case this week," Henard said. "We're still in the interview process, gathering information, etc. This is still an ongoing investigation."
The curfew implemented by Monroe County Sheriff's Department and State Police remains in effect for youth ages 18 and under, Henard said. The curfew is from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly and will continue until further notice, he said.
The City of Holly Grove will hold its 46th annual homecoming celebration beginning tonight with activities concluding Sunday afternoon July 1.
Henard noted that he doesn't feel like there will be any trouble during the homecoming celebration this weekend.
"I think everything will be fine during the weekend," he said. "The out-of-towners should be able to enjoy their celebration."
Three men Jheren Moore, 20, Ronnie L. Johnson Jr., 22, and Torrye Sims, 21, all of Holly Grove were arrested Tuesday, June 12, by Arkansas State Police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Departmnent and made court appearances June 13 at the Brinkley District Court. They face felony charges of arson and criminal mischief. A fourth suspect, Terrell Parris, 23, of Holly Grove turned himself in at the Monroe County Detention Center Thursday evening June 14, said Monroe County Sheriff Gary Henard. Parris was also charged with arson and criminal mischief. Sims faces an additional charge of possession of firearms by a certain person. Moore also faces a charge of theft by receiving. Police recovered weapons during the arrests, noted Arkansas State Police spokesperson Bill Sadler.
All four men have bonded out of jail on $75,000 bond each. They are to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court for plea and arraignment on July 2.
The men were arrested in connection to the vandalism that occurred June 3. The rampage started with shooting out all the windoiws in the city's fire department. Vandals then moved on to the new police department building, which is the former Bank of Holly Grove building. All the windows of this building were also shot out and cinder blocks were thrown through the glass doors of the building. The next building damaged was the store building next to the police station owned by Mayor Lula Tyler. Vandals also shot at this building and threw bricks and blocks through the windows and doors, Henard said.
The destruction then moved on to city hall where windows were shot out and the city's two police cars were shot up, had all the tires slashed and were set on fire. Henard noted that vandals had put a rag in the gas tank of one of the cards and set it on fire, noting that both cars were close to totalled. Henard noted that multiple weapons were used in the rampage.
-- Edited by Jane Dearing Dennis at 20:04, 2007-07-26
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From the June 14, 2007, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
Three arrested in Holly Grove vandalism
By Michelle Hillen
LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas State Police have arrested three Holly Grove men and were searching for a fourth in the June 3 vandalism of City Hall and the burning of two police cars in the east Arkansas town, an agency spokesman said Wednesday.
Jheren Moore, 20, Ronnie Johnson, 22, and Torrye Sims, 21, face charges of arson and criminal mischief. They were arrested Tuesday night and made court appearances Wednesday.
The fourth suspect, Terrell Paris, 23, remained at large.
These are crimes involving destruction of public property- a police car - and there are incidents of windows being smashed, state police spokesman Bill Sadler said. Other charges are possible as the investigation continues.
The vandalism included the smashing of windows in downtown buildings, including CityHall, and shooting at the Holly Grove police cars, which were also set on fire.
Holly Grove is a town of about 700 in Monroe County.
Sims also faces a charge of possession of firearms by certain persons. Police recovered weapons during the arrests, Sadler said.
Moore, Johnson and Sims were taken to Brinkley District Court, where bond was set at $75,000 each, Sadler said. Johnson posted the bail and was freed, but the other two men were returned to the Monroe County jail in Clarendon, according to a jail spokesman.
Sheriffs deputies responded to the reports of vandalism at 4 a.m. on June 3. When they arrived in Holly Grove, they discovered several windows had been shot at or broken with bricks in a three-block area of downtown. In addition to City Hall, the damaged structures included the Fire Department, a grocery store owned by Mayor Lula Tyler and an old bank building, Monroe County Sheriff GaryHenard said at the time.
Neither Tyler no Henard could be reached for comment Wednesday.
Police did not believe the vandalism was connected to a string of suspected arsons in the town, reported in April and May, Sadler said. Those fires damaged a local day-care center, also owned by the mayor; a building that previously housed the Police and Fire departments; an abandoned residence; and a storage facility on the old high school campus. No injuries were reported.
On May 28, the Holly Grove City Council voted to fire thecitys police chief, because, Tyler said at the time, the town didnt feel protected. After the June 3 vandalism, a newly hired police chief quit. The City Council voted the next day to enact a curfew to keep youngsters ages 17 and under off the streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The Monroe County sheriffs office and Arkansas State Police were still investigating the suspected arsons, Sadler said. Meantime, state troopers will patrol the Holly Grove area and respond to calls from both the city and the sheriffs office, he said.
This article was published Thursday, June 14, 2007. Arkansas, Pages 11, 14 on 06/14/2007
Gunshots, bricks damage HG buildings; police vehicles set afire at city hall
by Tricia Rogers Co-Editor
HOLLY GROVE -- Gunshots damaged several buildings in downtown Holly Grove early Sunday morning, the most recent devastation the town has seen in the past few months.
In May, the town saw three major fires at Kiddie Kollege Day Care Center, J's One Stop and at the former city hall. In December 2006, Holly Grove Elementary School burned to the ground.
The latest act of vandalism occurred at approximately 3 a.m. June 3, said Monroe County Sheriff Gary Henard.
A person or persons started the rampage by shooting out all windows in the city's fire department building on Dr. Herd Stone St. Vandals then moved down the street to the new police department building, which was the former Bank of Holly Grove building. All the windows of this building were shot out and cinder blocks were thrown through the glass doors of the building, Henard said.
The next building damaged was the store building next to the police station, owned by Mayor Lula Tyler. Vandals also shot at this building and threw bricks and blocks through the windows and doors, Henard noted. The wave of destruction then moved to city hall where windows were shot out. The city's two police cars were shot up, had all their tires slashed and were set on fire. Henard noted that vandals had put a rag in the gas tank of one of the cars and set it on fire. Both cars were close to totaled, he said.
Henard said multiple weapons were used in the rampage.
Although Sunday's incident comes close on the heels of the recent fires at the Kiddie Kollege and the former city hall, both of which are being investigated as arson, Henard noted that his department is treating the two as separate acts.
"We haven't tied the two together yet. We've treated the arsons as a different act and the vandalism as a different act," Henard said.
At a special city council meeting held in Holly Grove on Monday morning, Tyler, council members and Holly Grove residents met with Henard, Cpt. Nathaniel Jackson of Troop D. and Sgt. Barry Roy, both with the Arkansas State Police, and Monroe County Judge Larry Morris. At the meeting, Henard and other officials present implemented a curfew for the city from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
"The community's scared," Henard said. "They're scared and concerned with all that's been going on. The meeting helped them breathe a sign of relief with the presence of more law enforcement."
Holly Grove has been without municipal law enforcement since last week when the council fired Chief Jason Johnston and Cpt. David Caraway. A new chief hired last week worked two days and quit.
"We've assumed the role of police protection for the city," Henard said. "Last night (Monday) was the first night of the curfew and it went without any incidents. I had four patrolmen down there all night," Henard added.
Henard and his staff are currently working day and night to patrol Holly Grove.
"We're going to restore safety and stability," Henard said.
Henard noted that the sheriff's department an the Arkasnas State Police are working to find out what's causing the unrest in Holly Grove.
"We're talking to folks, we're patrolling, we're working to fix the problems," he said. "We're going to be there indefinitely until they can hire police protection. We'll do what we can as long as we can. I only have four deputies in my department, but we're working to make the citizens feel secure again."
I meant to post this quite a while back. Sorry for the delay. But I thought others would want to read this account, even if it's a little late. Jane Dearing Dennis
From the May 17, 2007, Monroe County Sun:
Fires raging rampant in Holly Grove
By Tricia Rogers Editor
Fires have been raging rampant in the city of Holly Grove the past few weeks. At least three structures have burned the past week, with the most recent fire being the Kiddie Kollege Day Care Center located on the east end of the former Holly Grove High School, which currently houses the former Holly Grove Elementary School students who were displaced in December 2006 when the elementary school building burned.
The fire at Kiddie Kollege happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 15. Holly Grove Police Chief Jason Johnston reported that after patrolling until 3 a.m. Tuesday, he went home off duty and was awakened at 4:05 a.m. by a woman beating on his door yelling that the school was on fire.
"I heard her saying, 'the schools on fire!' and I just ran out to see what was going on. At that time the Kiddie Kollege was completely engulfed in flames," Johnston said.
He noted that Holly Grove Fire Department, along with Clarendon and Brinkley Fire Departments, assisted in putting out the fire.
The Kiddie Kollege is located on the east end of the former HGHS building and is connected to the school by a hallway. Johnston noted that the citys backhoe was used to completely remove the hallway to keep the fire from spreading into the rest of the building.
"We cut the fire source off by using the backhoe to tear down that hall. This isolated the fire and kept it from taking the school down," Johnston said.
Holly Grove Elementary Principal Ruby Ellis noted that the elementary building did receive minor damage when firefighters broke out the cafeteria window to gain access to the building. Minor smoke and water damage occurred in the cafeteria and computer lab. Later in the morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. after fire fighters had left, the elementary roof did catch on fire but was immediately put out by fire fighters who returned to the scene, Ellis said.
Johnston would not comment about the casues of the recent fires, but did note that there had been quite a few in the past month.
Mayor Lula Tyler, owner of Kiddie Kollege Daycare Center, could not be reached for comment on the loss of the building.
There were no classes Tuesday. Teachers spent the day cleaning and airing out the building. The American Legion Auxiliary of Clarendon brought teachers a couple of ice chests of soft drinks, bottled water and snacks to help them throughout the day.
On Sunday, May 13, the only store in town, J's One Stop, was damaged by a grease fire, according to Police Chief Johnston.
Johnston noted that employees were frying chicken and fire caught in the walls and completely burned the inside of the building. Johnston noted hat the fire at Js One Stop was an accident.
On Thursday, May 10, the former Holly Grove police department and city hall at 104 South Smith Street burned in the morning hours. Chief Johnston noted that the fire began at around 8:45 a.m.
"We don't know exactly what happened," Johnston said." No one was seen around the building. The case is under investigation."
Quite a bit of equipment was lost, Johnston said, as it was being used for storage since the police department moved into the old Bank of Holly Grove building about six months ago. Also burned was one of the city's old fire trucks which was parked in the old police station. It was removed before it completely burned, but it did sustain fire damage.
Monroe County Sheriff Gary Henard noted Monday evening that he asked Barry Roy, Special Investigator and area supervisor for the Arkansas State Police, to investigate the fire at the old police station in an effort to calm the fears of the community due to the recent number of fires.
In speaking with Roy Monday evening, he noted that the city was holding their own investigation of the fire, but it was his determination that it was, in fact, arson.
"My job is to find the cause and origin of fires, what started them and where they occurred," Roy said. "And that fire was not an electrical fire. It had to be purposefully set."
Roy also investigated two other recent fires, one at an abandoned house in Holly Grove and one at the old agri building on the former HGHS campus.
"In my opinion, both of those fires were set, too," Roy said.
Another recent fire in the city was the old Seetoo store building.
Chief Johnston noted that there had been about 10 fires in the past month.
-- Edited by Jane Dearing Dennis at 08:38, 2007-06-08
Fires beset little town; latest blaze at day care BY MICHELLE HILLEN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE An early morning fire at a Holly Grove day care Tuesday was the latest in a string of suspected arsons in the east Arkansas community, Police Chief Jason Johnston said. A building that previously housed the Police and Fire departments has burned, as have several abandoned structures downtown. No injuries have been reported in the Monroe County town of about 700, Johnston said, but property damage has been substantial from what he estimated to be 10 fires over the past two or three weeks. The citizens are just completely frightened, Johnston said by telephone. Everybody is wanting to know who is next, and we are trying to make sure there is not going to be a next. Holly Grove is about 10 miles southeast of Clarendon. Though he couldnt provide the date of the first fire, Johnston said he believed the suspicious fires began just after a drug bust earlier this month or late last month during which one of his officers was shot at two or three times. The chief said he had been up since 4 a.m., responding to the initial report of the day-care blaze, and didnt have detailed information at hand. Shortly after the drug task force did the drug bust, we started experiencing all kinds of fires, Johnston said. He declined to say whether police had any suspects, saying that was part of the investigation. Johnston said several abandoned buildings were destroyed by fire last week. On Thursday, the former police and fire department building burned, he said, causing at least $70,000 in damage. The chief said Tuesdays fire destroyed the Kiddie Kollege day care, owned by Holly Grove Mayor Lula Tyler. The mayor could not be reached for comment. Although the fire destroyed the day care, the neighboring Holly Grove Elementary School escaped serious damage. Classes were canceled, however, because of the smoke. Students will return today, said Ruby Ellis, the school principal. It [the fire] did catch along the roofline, but they put it out immediately, Ellis said of the school building. It does cause concern, but, basically, the fire chief has OKd us to come back. Holly Grove Fire Chief Dewayne Lammers could not be reached for comment. Bill Sadler, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, said the agencys criminal investigation division had been called to help investigate at least four fires in Holly Grove, including two on April 30, one at an abandoned residence and the other at a storage facility on the old high school campus. The others are the fire Thursday at the former police and fire building and Tuesdays fire at the day care. The state police is operating under the assumption that all of these fires are of suspicious origin, Sadler said, adding that the agency could be asked to assist in investigating other fires that may have occurred. What caused the fires currently being investigated was unknown and no suspects have been identified, Sadler said. We are not even at that point in the investigation, he said. Johnston, the police chief, said Monroe County Sheriff Gary Henard was assisting in the investigation, too. Henard could not be reached for comment. Christopher Earnest, a local businessman who owns E-21 Liquor Store, said residents were frightened, especially because fires were threatening places where children spend time. This is attacking the fiber of our community ... which is our youth, our young kids, our little babies, so we are concerned, Earnest said. We hope that the perpetrators, whoever is involved or whoever is the cause of it, we hope that justice is done severely and very swiftly. The recent fires follow a Dec. 16, 2006, blaze that destroyed what was then the towns elementary school. The cause was later traced to an electrical problem. The elementary school, which has since been moved to the old high school campus, is the only school left in town after the relocation of grades seven through 12 to Clarendon in 2004. The Holly Grove School District was merged with the Clarendon School District that year.
Recent fires: - elementary school (back in Dec.) - 2 houses - old city hall (and old fire truck) - J's One Stop - old elementary school bldg
The fire at J&J has been determined to be a grease fire. All of the others no one knows the causes. Lots of guessing ... everybody thinks it's arson, but they don't know for sure yet. The county sheriff has called in the state police, and an arson expert is coming in Wed. TV stations have come in; Democrat-Gazette reporter is doing a story. The contents of the old City Hall bldg. were insured and will be covered by insurance co.
-- Edited by Jane Dearing Dennis at 21:27, 2007-06-07
Folks, There have been a number of fires likely caused by arson around Holly Grove. Here are some of the news articles about them. If anyone knows anything, please contact the authorities.
From KTHV in Little Rock:
I'm fed up with it. I've had it," Holly Grove Mayor Lula Tyler says.
Tyler owns what used to be Holly Grove Kiddie College. Flames still burn as smoke rises. Police say that early Tuesday morning someone set it on fire, displacing nearly 50 preschool students and eight employees.
"Seems like somebody might be sending a message somewhere," says Tyler.
Last Thursday morning, the old police and fire department burned down. The Victorian-style house directly behind it is Tylers.
"I don't know if it is attack on me or what. You know, after looking at the day care center, I don't know if it is attack on me or what," explains Tyler.
Tyler says she's not sure what some people may have against her. In one week, there have been six suspicious fires around town and still no arrests.
Police Chief Jason Johnston says, "We have put feelers out with everybody in the community. I had an investigator with me a while ago; we have been out all over the community. Nobody knows anything. Period."
Tyler says the town's two full-time police officers can only do so much. She says she's contacted Monroe County deputies several times asking for more patrol officers to watch for arsonists.
"I called the sheriff's department. I called the governor's office, she says. I don't know if we aren't big enough, we aren't good enough; I don't know what the problem is."
Until this little town of about 700 gets some answers and more help, Tyler says she has no doubt the fires will continue.
"It's getting to the point where I am ready to leave," she says.
Although moving isn't what she wants to do, she says she has to protect herself and her family.
Todays THV contacted the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. They say they are doing what they can. They only have four officers for the whole county, so it's difficult. State police are also investigating. Holly Grove Police say they are considering a town curfew.
School was cancelled Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, the preschoolers will have class in a vacant downtown building for the remainder of the school year.
AND from KATV in Little Rock: Holly Grove - For the second time in six months, a school facility has burned in Holly Grove.
You may remember Holly Grove elementary school was destroyed by fire back in December. Tuesday morning it was the building that housed a preschool program run by the town's mayor that caught fire before dawn.
That building happens to be adjacent to the old high school, which now houses the elementary students, since they were displaced by the December fire.
Holly Grove has seen a rash of fires in past months, including the two schools, the former City Hall building, and several homes.
The chief of police believes at least some of these fires are the result of arson--but he say authorities have no leads on who might be responsible.
(Jason Johnston, Police Chief) "I have no idea exactly who's doing it or why. We're going to get to the bottom of it. It's a small town, people's not even talking. We're asking. Nobody knows."
Mayor Lula Tyler who runs the Kiddie College preschool declined to comment about the fires. There's still no word on where the three- and four-year-olds will go to school in the immediate future.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 17:03, 2007-05-16
